Changeable-letter device



1,677,319 J. K. K. ANDERSEN' CHANGEABLE LETTER DEVICE Filed May 1927 Invent 1r JZlan/F. K 477%7112? Fatented an 17, was. I i I JOHAN Kan-L KFLESTIAH ANDERSEN, or BnooKLYii, new roan.

CHANGEABLE-LETTEB nnvrcn.

Application filed May 7, 1927. Serial No. 159,595.

A The object of my present invention is the ing convexed in cross section as clearly approvision of a peculiar and advantageous pears in Figure3. changeable letter device, adapted to be used The discs 3 are loosely mounted on a shaft for stamping or printing purposes, or as an 6 disposed longitudinally of the device, and to educational device. by reference to Figure 1 it will be noted that With the foregoing in mind, the invenspacing washers 7 are mounted on the shaft tion in all of its details will be fully under- 6 and are interposed between the discs 3 I stood from the following description and as to maintain the said discs 3 in spaced reclaims, when the same are read in conneclation. 1 U 65 l tion with the drawing, accompanying and The casing of my novel device is of faforming a part of this specification, in milia-r and advantageous construction as will which: be appreciated when it is stated that the eas- Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevation ing is made up of end walls 8, a top wall of the device, constituting the preferred 9 interposed between and joining the end 7 embodiment of my invention. walls 8, and side walls 10,, all of the said Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same. walls being preferably, though not necessa- Figure 8 is a cross section of the device. rily, formed of sheet metal ofv appropriate Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal thickness. The shaft 6. istmounted in the section of the device. end walls 8, and the cylinder 4: is also in.- Similar numerals of reference describe terposed between and mounted in and supcorresponding parts in all of the views in ported by said end walls 8. The guide memthe drawings. I ber 5 is interposed between the said end Among other elements, my novel device walls 8 and is provided at its ends With comprises a plurality of endless flexible bendable tongues 9*, which are inserted bands 1 arranged side by side and each prothrough apertures in the end walls 8 and vided at intervz'tls in its length and on its are bent against the outer sides of the end outer sides with projections 2, bearing on Walls 8 so as to effect a connection between their faces letters, as shown, numerals or the guide member 5 and the said end walls 8.

other characters which are preferably pro- The top wall 9 is of concavo-convex shape duced by embossing on the faces of the proin cross section and the side walls 10 are projections. vidcd w th arms 11, which are pivotally con The said device also comprises a plurality nccted to the extended portions of the shaft of side by side toothed discs 3, the discs 6. By virtue of the said construction, the 3 being arranged so that their teeth are side walls 10 swung from the full line poso 33 adapted to enter the spaces between. the sition shown in Figure Z'to the dotted line projections 2 on the endless band 1. Each positions shown in said figure and manidisc 3 is capable of being turned independ iestly when the side walls 10 are in the ently of every other disc, and from this it dotted line positions, the endless bands 1 follows that each band 1 is adapted to be will bereleased, by the side walls 10, and moved independently of every other band. therefore by manipulating the disc 3, the and the projections 2 being provided on operator is enabled to adjustthe band 1, so their faces with different letters or with as to arrange the characters that appear in different numerals or other characters, it the exposed line. The exposed line of charfollows that my adjustment of a series of the acters to be displayed are to be used for bands 1 or of all of the bands 1 various printing or stamping purposes and is discoi'nbinations of letters or other numerals or posed between the lower edge portion of the other characters may be produced in an exside walls 10, the said edge portions being posed line as will be hereinafter underdeflected inwardly so as to rest normally stood. I would also have it understood, at at opposite sides of the row of projections 2, 1 this point, that the teeth of the disc 8 and in that way preclude casual movement afford a means whereby the disc may be of the endless bands 1. It will also be readily turned by theapplication of the noted, in this connection, that when the fingers of the operator to the disc. side walls 10 are swung tothe dotted line The bands 1 are mounted on and movable position shown in Figure 2, the row of proabout a cylinder 4-, and a guide member at jections 2 alluded to will be released frojm i we is .0

the outer surface oi: the guide member 5 be side walls 10 so that the will offer no interference with the endwise adjustment of any one of the bands 1.

he side walls 10 are provided, on their end edges wit-h clips 12, these clips 12 being designated when the walls are in their full line position shown in Figure 2, to frictionally or otherwise detachably engage the end walls 8, so as to detachably maintain the walls 10 in working relation. Manifestly, when a little stress is applied to either of the walls 10, the same may be swung from the full line position into the dotted line position shown in Figure 2. j

It w ll be apparent from the foregoing,

vhat in novel device is ada ted to be used to advantage as an educational device, different combinations of letters, numerals or other characters being displayed by the row of projections 2 below the guide member 5 and between the free edge portions of the side walls 10. It will also be understood that the exposed row of projections 2 may be used in the conventional manner for stamping or printing purposes.

Notwithstanding the practical advantages ascribed to my novel device, it will be noted that the device is simple and inexpensive in construction, and ingeneral is well adapted to withstand the usage to which devices of corresponding character are ordinarily subjected.

I have entered into a detailed description of the construction and relative arrangement of the parts in the present and preferred em a full, clear and exact understanding of the said embodiment.

I do not desire, however, to be understood as limiting mysel' to the construction disclosed, my invention being defined by my appended claims within the scope of which modifications may be made, without departure from my invention.

\Vhat is claimed is:

1. In a changeable device, in combination, a shaft, a plurality of toothed discs mounted loosely on said shaft, spacing means on the shaft and between the discs, a cylinder in parallelism with the shaft, a guide member spaced from the cylinder and convexed on its outer side, a plurality of side by side endless flexible bands on said cylinder and guide member and each having a plurality of spaced projections adapted to cooperate with the teeth of a disc and to bear letters, numerals, or other characters, and a casing comprising a top wall concavo-convex in cross section, end walls supporting said shaft, cylinder and guide member, and side walls having arms pivotally connected to said shaft and also having means for detachably holding them to the end walls and further having inwardly directed edge portions adapted to rest at opposite sides of a row of projections on the endless band to expose said projections and to cooperate with the projections in prcventing casual movement of the bands, one of the side walls when swung to open position affording access to the toothed disc for adjustment purposes. I

2. A changeable device having side by side endless bands provided with spaced projections, means supporting said bands jtoothed discs arranged to cooperate with the spaced projections for the adjustment of the bands, and a casing having Walls arranged in one position to hold the bands against casual movement and to expose a row of projections and also adapted in another position to release the band and to afford access to the discs for the adjustment of the band.

3. A changeable device comprising appropriately supported endless bands arranged side by side and provided with character bearing portions, individual devices for cooperating with the bands for the independ ent adjustment of each band, and a casing enclosing the band and adjusting devices, said casing when closed operating to expose a row of characters of the band, while covering the remainder of the characters and also operating when closed to prevent casual movement of the bands, said casing adapt d when open to release the bands and to afford access to the adj usting' devices by the manipulation of the latter.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

JOHAN KARL KRlS'l'lAN ANDERSEIL 

